Our main problem in discussing theories of this game, which gives rise to multi-page theories, is that we do not consider the game holistically, but only piecemeal.
DPC looks at the game as a whole product, in his mind there is a beginning and an end.
Once the game is finished and released on steam, the player will play it as a holistic project, without months of waiting and digging into the code. The player is unlikely to go through more than two branches. And in order for the player to have a lot of freedom of action, he needs to be given a wide variation, and often very strange.
When dalli_x expounds his craziest theories, I get lost. Either he really thinks that the game will go according to such fantasy / thriller / fairy tale scenarios, or he just makes 100 shots to hit only 1 target, like a betting on the whole table and fields in roulette. In the first case, it is sad, in the second case such theories lose their value, because there is not much joy from the fact that one bet out of 100 won, it is not a victory but a waste of time, because you can "guess" absolutely anything with such approach, and something will work sometime. You can be considered a "winner" if you are consistent, adhere to a certain logic and several theories or even single ones, defend them and subsequently if some of them come true, at least partially - then there is some joy and sense in it. While filling the entire space with information noise and sitting around waiting for some of this to work or come true is absurd, imo.
So, for example, why is Maya fixated on the DIK MC and admits to thinking about him even though she herself rejected him because of his status? A player can avoid her altogether the entire game, but Maya has feelings for him for some strange reason? It made more sense to make Maya exclusive to Chick, but DPC realizes that the path of the Others is mostly players with DIK affinity and he therefore gives the option for everyone to go the path of Maya.
I am of the opinion that the theory that someone expounds should reflect his vision of the game and what he assumes or would like to see implemented in it (at least partially). And only then goes arguing about the meanings and so on.
That kiss doesn't mean anything at all. He's kissed practically every girl in the game.
Also, the MC doesn't act like he's in love with Maya.
He leaves to party all night in ep2 even though it's obvious Maya wants to spend time with him. He may go off for a threesome with Riona and Quinn and leaves Maya alone in the room again.
Regarding Maya in general and example you chosed to explain you point. I think you misunderstand the meaning of narrative linkage tricks which is made and intended to connect different playstyles together and a part of writing of the story. The theories regarding characters or their connections in general as well as ones regarding the plot are mostly another thing. If we theorize about what some character would do with MC or what motivated him to do something, then your example with Maya is a narrative feature and trick partially. Most of the time you won't get any hints from it. It's like asking yourself - why Josy likes MC and will always like. Because it's her feature. She is written in this way. It's like to ask why ice-cream is sweet. It's both part of the genre feature and part of the narrative in case with BADIK.
I can't agree with most of the part regarding affinity and other things you mentioned here, either.
Any proofs that Maya is "fixated" on a DIK MC? You don't get RP points with her being a DIK or even lose some. Josy is more tolerate, but still doesn't like MC being a DIK with her, same thing goes with RPs. They both are "fixated" on MC in general. But at important moment of time his affinity (personality) makes a deciding factor to them.
Even Josy doubts in DIK MC before the library scene. Even fucking her at their date doesn't help here:
Code:
js "Talk to her. Talk to us!"
js "I've realized I already made my bed with my choices..."
if ep2_fuckedJosy and affinity != "DIK":
js "...but if I got the chance to go back and change them...I wouldn't."
elif True:
js "...and if I got the chance to go back and change them...maybe I would. I'm not sure..."
Why it's so? Because solo paths are not so complicated and you don't need to get the approval of another relationship participant. Throuple is a more delicate thing and especially at that moment of time. DIK MC sound and act mostly as a womanizer and they wanted feelings at the first place and to make it work out at the second.
Regarding the party - it's fully depends on your choice. If you roleplay your MC as a party guy and "parties first, girls next" then you going to the party. If your MC is interested in Maya he will offer her to make their own little party and then come back early. If you roleplaying a womanizer you can make your MC to pretend as a good guy, while fucking everything that moves and Maya would become just a one of them. You can promise her to help with scavenger tasks and go to have a 3-some with Quinn. It's not a choice between "1" and "2" but a much more complex one.
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If you'll play the game after Season 2 only with one branch you will only get content for your choosen path. The "canon" part is still visible, but you can easily feel and tell the difference. When you romancing all MGs and a bunch of SGs at a time in Season 1-2 and how then it looks and feels in Season 3. This is where a lot of controversy and discontent comes from some players who want to see and go through everything in 1-2 runs. Well. You are playing the game. Each game have it's own rules. You may accept them and have fun, disagree and abandon it or try to use cheats and get fucked
Because to "de-branch" the game - the modder must literally rewrite most part of the code, remove all checks and traps and fix all potential conflicts. Even after such hypothetical fix game would most likely look ridicolous. For example EP9 with different characters outfits and mixing then in one playthrough. It named "replayability". You can complete almost any game just one time, but you deprive yourself from getting through all possible content, endings, interactions, etc. Your right to sacrifice it, but where the author is wrong? He planned and writen the story and it's impossible to tell such story without branching, because author in his game implies different endings, while most of them dedicated to choosen LI path. Excuses and petitions like the "let us fool around till the end and move the path choice from EP8 to the last episode" is absolutely ridicolous. Don't tell an artist how to draw a picture, how to write music for a musician, how to write a book for a writer. You either like the result or not, or you find some compromises. Everything else is kindergarten.
Some things are always forced, like in any movie/book/tv show. Difference with games like BADIK is ability to make some choice (at some point), some things will still stay linear till the end, while some will change according to your choices. The most important is if they just decorative or emulate the feeling of choice or they are really changing something significantly. True interactivity, not the fake one. Imo, the more true interactivity you get in games like BADIK the greater game is. 1-run lovers will scream and piss, though.
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